Why is monitoring the hardness of feedwater important?

Monitoring the hardness of feedwater is essential primarily to avoid scale formation. Hardness in water is typically due to the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. When hard water is heated, such as in boilers or other systems where water is used, these ions can precipitate out of solution and form scale.

Scale can accumulate on the heating surfaces, which reduces thermal efficiency and can lead to overheating and damage to equipment. Additionally, scale buildup can obstruct flow paths and reduce the overall capacity of water systems, ultimately resulting in increased maintenance costs and downtime. By keeping track of water hardness levels, operators can take necessary measures to treat the water and prevent scale formation, thus protecting the integrity and efficiency of the system.

In contrast, while factors such as flow rate, pressure, and clarity are important in their own right, they are not directly influenced by the hardness of the feedwater in relation to preventing scale. Hence, avoiding scale formation is the primary reason monitoring water hardness is critical.